When it comes to food, Bloomington is a Midwestern city that should never be overlooked. This Hoosier college town offers an incredible variety of diverse food options, starting with their incredible food markets. From fresh produce stands to specialty food markets, these are the best vendors to explore in Bloomington.
This large, outdoor farmers’ market is one of the most loved in Bloomington. Here, you’ll find vendors offering a variety of local produce, breads, cooked foods, plants, flowers, gifts, jewelry, and much more. You’ll even find specialty meats, cheeses, and pastries. Make a day trip out of this grocery haul by enjoying meals at the market, with plenty of breakfast and lunch options to pick from.
This international market is the place to go in Bloomington for a variety of Asian and Eastern foods. Shoppers will find fresh produce, meat, and a huge selection of non-perishable, frozen, and refrigerated foods. Their shelves are chock-full of authentic Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Korean ingredients. They can also special order many Asian foods if you don’t see what you’re looking for in stock.
This meat shop offers a variety of freshly-smoked trip-tip, steaks, and chicken breasts that are ready to throw on the grill for an easy and delicious meal. They also provide over 40 different types of smoked sausages from the adventurous Hawaiian Jalapeno Cheddar to a more classic Chicken Mushroom Swiss. You can also buy smoked wings, ready to heat up before the big game. Wagon Wheel also carries a variety of frozen goods, pasta salads, cheeses, barbecue sauces, and desserts.
This authentic Italian market has everything you need to recreate that classic Italian dish your mom used to make. With a huge selection of Italian ingredients, from canned tomatoes to boxed and fresh pastas to Italian cheeses, you’ll find it hard to leave with just the few things you had on your list. They also provide ingredients that are shipped directly from Italy and have some ready-to-eat Italian sandwiches and pizzas in their on-site restaurant.
This hidden gem is an incredible Indiana and Middle Eastern market and deli, all in one. Shoppers will find a variety of Indiana and Asian spices, as well as bulk foods, including rice, chickpeas, various grains, lentils, and beans. Fresh produce, frozen items, and non-perishables such as ramen are also stocked here. Be sure to try their freshly made Indian foods at the deli.
This food co-op has several locations throughout the Bloomington area. This Bloomington-based co-op has an open membership policy and offers a variety of organic and natural foods. They have a huge produce section, local meats and cheeses, a bakery with freshly made sweets, and a great deli selection. Visitors can also enjoy and take home pre-made foods from the sandwich shop and salad bar.
This neighborhood mart offers everything from ordinary groceries to exotic foods and ingredients. Shoppers will find a little bit of everything here with a huge beer and wine section, produce area, large bulk bins full of nuts, candy, and dried fruits, and a variety of spices and sauces. From curry paste to simple cooking oil, you’ll find everything you need at this local, friendly market.
